Two Nuneaton storekeepers have appeared in court for selling food past its sell-by date.

The two outlets were taken to court by Warwickshire County Council trading standards service.

On June 27, 2001, trading standards officers visited A Harding and Son, at The Green, Nuneaton, and found on sale two 400g Vienna loaves, two 800g tin loaves and one 400g tin loaf which were mouldy.

In addition, none of the items had labels or date marks.

At Atherstone Magistrates? Court, owner Tony Harding pleaded guilty to three offences under the Food Safety Act, and a further three offences under the Food Labelling Regulations. He was given an 18-month conditional dis-charge and ordered to pay costs of #500.

On September 7, trading standards visited Whittleford Garage Grocers, in Whittleford Road, Nuneaton, and found on sale one Ginsters pork pie, one sausage roll, and three Cornish pasties which were between one and 13 days past their use-by dates.

Before Nuneaton magistrates, store owner Mukesh Manek pleaded guilty to four offences under the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 and was fined #500 with #885 costs.

Both prosecutions were brought as a result of complaints from customers.

Noel Hunter, director of Warwick-shire trading standards, said: ?Out-of-date and mouldy food is a danger to health. Retailers have a responsibility to ensure they do not sell out-of-date products and mouldy foods and that they ensure their goods are properly labelled and that old stock is removed from the shelves.?

Mr Manek said this was his first offence in 20 years of trading. He had now tightened up his stock rotation and was very sorry for what had happened.